In a World of Reversed Chastity, I Strive to Become an Honorable Male Knight, but Lustful Women Keep Targeting My Body - 292

Chapter 292: The Kukkoro Male Knight and the Rescue

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About ten minutes later. As expected, a report came from Lady Orphan: “We are currently under attack.” In contrast, our side remained as quiet as ever. Not a single arrow had flown in, nor had any soldiers been injured by strange traps. Even though we could say we were receiving no attacks at all, we could not stay relaxed. After all, Lady Orphan’s unit was responsible for our retreat route. Our rear had been seriously threatened, so the sense of urgency was intense.

However, we could not immediately turn the unit around and go rescue Lady Orphan. We had a mission to protect and recover nearly one hundred civilians. It was quite a large number, so even the liberation work alone took a fair amount of time. On top of that, some of them were injured or suffering from dehydration, so they could not start moving right after being untied.

“Are you all right? You will still need to walk for a while after this. If it is physically difficult, tell a nearby knight. I will have them carry you if necessary.”

While handing a water canteen to a weary man, I said that to him. He nodded repeatedly with tears in his eyes while bowing his head. In situations like this, it was important to speak properly to each person one by one, and depending on the case, even pat their shoulder or hold their hand to encourage them. Human beings are surprisingly fragile. To push them beyond their limits, you had to follow a proper process.

Yes, beyond their limits. I was planning to evacuate them to an area near the city of Carrera. That was about three days on foot from Runga City. In a well-maintained flat road, that distance would be nothing special, but such civilized infrastructure did not exist in Liseben. They would have to cut through untamed forests.

For soldiers it would be manageable, but for men who were not particularly trained, it would be quite a difficult journey. The men of this world were truly weak. In fact, even I was among the more robust men in this world. Even so, compared to my body in my previous life, it was ridiculously weak, and sometimes it made me want to snap in frustration…

“Um, um, Onii-sama. Do you have a moment?”

While I was reflecting on the irrationality of this gender-reversed world, someone poked the back of my chest armor. When I turned around, I saw my sworn younger sister, Karina. Normally she moved with the regular infantry units, but since this was a combat situation, she was currently serving as my squire.

“What is it? If you need to pee, don’t go alone. We don’t know where enemy ambushes might be hiding…”

“W-what?! That’s not it!”

Karina shook her head vigorously. Her face was hidden by her full-face helmet, but it was probably bright red. …It wasn’t really a joke, though. Excretion management on the battlefield was seriously important. Especially Karina, since she tended to panic and wet herself easily…

“It’s not that. It’s just… I don’t really understand the enemy’s intent.”

As she said that, Karina glanced at the civilian men beside me. Then she motioned for me to come closer. It seemed she did not want them to hear this. I crouched slightly and leaned my ear toward her. Since Karina was short, I had to crouch for private conversation.

“I was thinking it might have been more tactically effective to blow everyone up with bombs or something… Including the rescue targets. It doesn’t seem very rational to return hostages without even keeping a ‘souvenir,’ you know?”

At her words, I nodded with a hum. I had instructed her to ask questions like this on the spot unless it was an emergency. It was part of her officer training. That said, it might sound like we were saying something outrageous, but this was also part of my training for her. On the battlefield, you inevitably encounter enemies who operate in completely unscrupulous ways. Training yourself to follow their thought process was essential. …As for military education, it was correct, but as a moral upbringing for a child, it was a complete disaster. Honestly, it was exhausting.

“You are correct. I was of course wary of that kind of tactic as well…”

I began answering Karina seriously. It might seem leisurely when our allies were engaged in combat, but me panicking alone would not improve the situation. We could not move the main force until the liberation operation was finished. To maintain my composure, I continued speaking in my usual tone.

“The enemy commander, Vanka, does not seem to consider us enemies. In other words, she pushed the evacuation of non-combatants onto us. As a diversion, too.”

Well, for the Vanka faction, which was already at a disadvantage, fighting us while burdened with refugees was impossible. Their choices were basically three: let them go, kill them, or use them as hostages.

Lady Vanka had chosen the most moderate option among them. Binding them and gathering them in one place was likely to prevent them from dispersing and getting lost. There were no large carnivorous beasts in Liseben’s forests, but the woods were incredibly deep. If inexperienced people wandered in carelessly, they would certainly lose their sense of direction and wander until they died.

“In other words, Vanka is not even treating us as opponents. How insulting.”

Sonia added this while leaning into the conversation. She seemed unapproachable at first glance, but she was surprisingly attentive to her subordinates.

“Well, being underestimated by the enemy is actually welcome. The more they let their guard down, the easier it is for us to move. I’d actually like them to underestimate us as much as possible.”

“W-what do you mean, ‘underestimate us as much as possible’?! Underestimate what?!”

Karina shouted in a strange voice. Sonia let out a deep sigh and then bonked her on the head. A crisp metallic sound rang out, and Karina let out a strange “pyaa!?” sound. 

Hey, hey, corporal punishment is forbidden here… 

Well, since she hit the helmet, it probably didn’t hurt anyway.

“Is your head filled only with indecent thoughts? Even if only on paper, you carry the Blondin name. Conduct yourself in a way that does not disgrace Al-sama!”

“S-sorry…”

Karina shrank back, but Sonia’s right hand was trembling. Well, of course it was. Even with gauntlets, hitting a helmet directly would hurt your hand. The absurd exchange made the surrounding men snicker. I was honestly so embarrassed I could have caught fire, but if it helped ease their tension, then so be it. I sighed and refocused.

“My lord. The liberation operation has been completed.”

At that moment, the naval infantry commander arrived to report. Looking around, indeed, no one remained bound anymore.

“I see. That was quick.”

There were nearly a hundred captives, men and children combined. To release all of them in such a short time was impressive. Calming children, untying ropes, and giving them water was no easy task.

“In the end, the elves helped us with various tasks.”

“I see.”

I nodded. Ideally, I wanted Liseben forces to lead the liberation, but there was no helping it. Unlike the elf forces, which had deployed nearly all their strength, we had brought only a small contingent. In the end, we simply did not have the manpower to take full control of the situation.

…I had also already informed the Carrera headquarters via bird messengers, but reinforcements from Liseben would not arrive in time for this operation. At least for tonight, we had to manage with the forces we had.

“Very well, let’s move to rescue Lady Orphan. The spearhead of the rescue will be a mixed unit of knights and Lady Dalaiya’s forces. The naval infantry will prioritize protecting the evacuees. Understood?”

“Understood! Oorah!”

Now, my tasks were twofold: drive off Vanka’s forces and withdraw from this place, and persuade Dalaiya’s faction to escort the evacuees safely toward Carrera City. The former was not easy, but the latter was the real objective. I would have to do my best. If I truly intended to bring the elves under my influence, I could not afford to be soft. The people of Liseben had suffered greatly at the hands of the elves. Simply telling them, “We are providing humanitarian aid because the elves are in trouble,” would not convince them.

There was a deep rift between the people of Liseben and the elves. As the first step to bridging it, we needed the achievement of rescuing the kidnapped men.

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